BB CONNEX UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA BREMER BRISBANE PRESBYTERY P O Box 70 Booval Fair 4304 admin@bremerbrisbane.org.au If you have something you would like to share in the next BB Connex, please e-mail We would love to hear from you. admin@bremerbrisbane.org.au July & August 2017 No. 18 Brian s Buzz Welcome to another edition of BB Connex. It has been a great year and its great to reflect some of those as we prepare for our last meeting in November. The work done on identifying our four strategic foci from our strategic plan at our last meeting has enabled us to better hone the work and directions of our Presbytery. Those four foci are: Discipleship Community Engagement Leadership Sustainability Presbytery Dates 2017 4 th Nov - Renovators Dinner 6pm 7 th Nov - 2pm Property Meeting 7 th Nov - Standing Committee - 3pm 7 th Nov - PRC & SC with Candidates 6pm 23 rd Nov - Presbytery Meeting Ipswich City 6.30pm BBP - Admin office hours Monday 9.30am 2.30pm Tuesday 9.30am 2.30pm Wednesday No Admin Thursday 9.30am 2.30pm Friday 9.30am 2.30pm These are the areas that the Presbytery will focus on. We will focus on discipleship with an emphasis upon youth and children and evangelism. Monique has done a fantastic job with the Stretching Faith, Community on the Green and Encounter. The work with the Queensland Community Alliance with the Founding Assembly saw this Presbytery well represented. We have many of our ministers having done, or doing the Synod leadership scheme, as well as those lay people enrolled in their POD. All of these will enhance our leadership capacity. As the next Presbytery Meeting approaches we will be electing people for leadership within our Presbytery. The strength and sustainability of our Presbytery is directly related to the willingness of people to be engaged and involved. We need people to step up and play their role. The willingness of you to serve in some capacity strengthens and supports the work of the Presbytery. Please think carefully and pray as nominations are due next week. Brian
Faith Works Norman Park Uniting Church In June 2017, the Uniting Church celebrated 40 years of Uniting Church in Australia. In July Norman Park celebrated 100 years of church in Norman Park. so, it was only fitting they have a party. 2 A High Tea Centennial Celebration and Special service to honour the founding of the Norman Park Uniting Church in 1917 was held. Then and Now Photo above: Karen Bowler, Ross Smith & Lesley Bishop Photo above: Rob McFarlane, Karen Bowler & Rev Linda Hanson Photo above: Rev Linda Hanson & John Loneragan Above: Di Farmer MP & Noel Hohenhaus
3 Aunty Jean Phillips and Nazareth Wapau from Mapoon spoke at the 3 worship services at Indooroopilly UCA on 2nd July 2017 for NAIDOC week Above: Aunty Jean Phillips, Rev Dr Elizabeth Nolan and Nazareth Wapau Above: Lola and Eman are the ACU Social Work students joining Indooroopilly UC from 1st August on placement Mondays to Thursdays until December
REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN - SONGWRITE 2018 IN BRISBANE 4 Songwrite 2018, the third national workshop for worship song-writers in the Uniting Church, is being held at Indooroopilly UC, Brisbane, over the Australia Day long weekend, 26-28 January 2018. The previous two events (Canberra and Adelaide) drew song-writers, young and old, from across Australia for a wonderful weekend of learning, writing, recording and worship singing. Keynote speaker for 2018 is Tanya Riches (composer of Jesus, what a beautiful name ), a Hillsong pastor from Sydney with a deep experience of cross-cultural and First Peoples music. For details, visit: https://ucasongwrite.wordpress.com/ or on Facebook: Songwrite2018. Online registrations at $150 are now open at: https://ucasongwrite.wordpress.com/registration/. Enquiries: Rev. David MacGregor, dmacgreg1@optusnet.com.au. Eagle and Lamb At the last Presbytery meeting I was grateful to be able to report that my book detailing the key issues and events of the life of my father, Leonard Kentish was ready for publication. It is now published and available to members of Presbytery for $45.00 and can be purchased at the church office at Indooroopilly UC. I am prepared to sign books ordered and deliver them to any accessible address in the presbytery. In Uniting in Worship, the name of Leonard Kentish is listed as a martyr of the church on page 368. I am available to speak with or without Powerpoint at any church function where I am given opportunity to promote his story and make available Eagle and Lamb. - Noel Kentish Leonard Kentish, aged 35, was the only Australian captured by enemy forces in Australia during World War 2. In January 1943 he was travelling on a naval supply vessel in North Australia when it was bombed by a Japanese floatplane. The pilot, believing his superiors wanted information, landed on the ocean and captured Kentish. Why only one prisoner? Why him? Within his story is that of his wife, Violet, and their son and two daughters. It describes her courageous struggle as a sole parent to raise their children during her three-year quest to find him and an account of the War Crimes tribunal that brought three criminals face to face with the consequences of their action. Written by his son, drawing from family records and public sources, Eagle and Lamb combines personal memoir, history and biography. SAFE MINISTRY WITH CHILDREN TRAINING Do you need SMC training at your Congregation? E-mail Melloney admin@bremerbrisbane.org.au
Multi Cross Cultural Reference Group (MCCRG) organised UCA40 Anniversary Event held 24 th June 2017 5 Turning 40 has been equally important across all cultures in the Uniting Church. For our multi-cross cultural congregations it required a celebration of colour, music, dancing, feasting and worship. Beenleigh Regional Uniting Church was filled to capacity for most part of Saturday 24 June. All who attended could not help but get caught up with the excitement as the worship space was filled with beautiful harmonies, colourful cultural attire and the rhythm of youth. In his opening address, our Moderator, Rev David Baker, went back in time to the beginning of the UCA and traced its journey up until now. This was very fitting and timely as many of those gathered had little knowledge of the Uniting Church in Australia. The presence of Rev Dennis Corowa reminded the gathering of the First Peoples of this land, the covenant the UCA made with them, their struggles and aspirations for a better future to include proper recognition and Sovereignty. 'Siyahamba' moved us to morning tea where David Baker and Dennis Corowa cut the 40th anniversary cake. The Beenleigh Regional Uniting caterers did wonders to feed the multitude and graciously remained to lend a helping hand for the rest of the day - 'Vinaka vakalevu' In his field of expertise, Pastor David Busch interviewed emerging young leaders of Next Gen Arise and effectively opened up conversations around faith, present experiences and expectations for the future of the UCA. Pastor Noah and Next Gen Arise were heavily involved with the band and as parking directors. Our soloist guest artist Mohenoa Tupou received a standing ovation after performing Luciano Pavarotti's version of Nessun Dorma. As 'time and tide wait for no man' the crowd missed the highlight of the day for at Worship and the Lord's Supper the General Secretary, Rev Heather den Houting and the Assistant General Secretary, Rev David Fender, faithfully fed the remaining few with word and sacrament so they won't lose their way. David Busch's 'Called Together' joyously leads us on with confidence to the next 40 years! This event was organised by the Multi-Cross Cultural Reference Group of the Queensland Synod and made possible by the generous hospitality of the Beenleigh Regional Uniting Church. Above: David Baker and Dennis Corowa cut the 40th anniversary cake
6 DON T FORGET TO VISIT THE BBP WEBSITE A WHOLE YEAR S WORTH OF EVENTS AND FLYERS FOR YOUR VIEWING AND DIARY